Brief Summary
This video explores how Perplexity AI can serve as a superior alternative to Siri on iPhones. It details how to set up Perplexity for voice commands, integrate it with the action button, and use it for tasks like navigation, booking rides, playing music, managing calendars, sending emails, setting reminders, finding YouTube videos, getting weather updates, and conducting research. The video highlights Perplexity's ability to understand natural language, provide detailed and accurate responses, and perform actions more efficiently than Siri.
- Perplexity AI can replace Siri on iPhones with deep integration.
- It offers superior performance in navigation, music, calendar management, and research.
- The video provides step-by-step instructions for setting up and using Perplexity as a voice assistant.
Intro: Why Siri Needs an Upgrade
Siri falls short compared to advanced AI assistants like Gemini or ChatGPT. While replacing Siri as the default voice assistant on iPhones was previously impossible, Perplexity AI now offers deep iPhone integration, positioning it as a viable alternative. The video demonstrates how to use Perplexity for tasks traditionally handled by Siri, such as getting directions, playing music, sending emails, and setting reminders, effectively turning it into a true AI assistant on your iPhone.
Use Action Button to Open Perplexity
To begin, download the Perplexity app from the App Store and log in. Perplexity AI functions similarly to ChatGPT but emphasizes research by providing answers based on credible sources. While the app can be used independently, replacing Siri involves utilizing Perplexity's voice mode. Accessing voice mode is made easier through the control center by adding a "start voice mode" control. This allows immediate initiation of voice chats with Perplexity. Users can also add a widget to the lock screen or home screen for quick access. On newer iPhones with an action button, Perplexity's voice mode can be assigned for instant activation, enabling users to ask questions and receive more accurate answers than Siri.
Get Directions Instantly (Apple Maps Integration)
A common use of Siri is to request directions, such as "drive me home" or "drive me to the nearest Starbucks," which prompts Siri to start navigation in Apple Maps. Perplexity can replicate this function with its map integration. By invoking Perplexity's voice mode and saying, "Take me to the nearest Starbucks" or "Find the best route to Pike Place Market," Perplexity understands the request and provides directions. Tapping "open in maps" starts the navigation. Perplexity's intelligence allows for more complex requests like, "I want to go to this coffee shop near Pike Place Market, which is supposed to be the first Starbucks place. Drive me there." Perplexity accurately interprets the request and provides directions to the first Starbucks near Pike Place Market, a task Siri struggles with, often only providing web search results.
Book Uber Rides Hands-Free
When booking an Uber ride to the airport using Siri, it simply opens the Uber app. In contrast, Perplexity asks clarifying questions and automatically enters all the necessary details, presenting the user with options, fares, and timings, making the booking process more efficient with just one click. This demonstrates Perplexity's capability as a smart assistant.
Play Music with Perplexity
Finding music using Perplexity is a standout feature. While Siri can play a song if you know the exact name, Perplexity excels even without specific details. For example, when asked to play the song for which AR Rahman won an Academy Award, Siri identified the correct artist but played the wrong song. Perplexity, however, correctly identified and played the song on Apple Music with just one tap, showcasing its ability to understand complex queries with minimal information.
Manage Calendar and Events
Managing calendars is a frequent use of Siri, allowing users to ask about their schedule or schedule meetings. Perplexity enhances this functionality through integration with the iPhone's calendar app. It can schedule events, provide summaries of the day's events, and modify existing events using natural voice commands. For instance, saying "move my dentist appointment to next Monday" prompts Perplexity to draft the event change instantly, eliminating manual entry and scrolling.
Send Emails Automatically
When researching with Perplexity, such as planning a 2-day trip to Olympic National Park, users can ask Perplexity to send the summary as an email. Perplexity drafts a complete email in Apple Mail, including the subject, title, sender information, and body, requiring only a final send. This level of efficiency is difficult to achieve with Siri.
Create and Manage Reminders
Perplexity integrates with the iPhone's reminders app, allowing users to create reminders by saying, "Remind me to charge my camera batteries at 8:00 p.m. today" or "Remind me to call mom when I get home." Perplexity can also manage reminders, such as deleting overdue reminders. Asking Perplexity to "delete all my overdue reminders" cleans up the reminder list, demonstrating its ability to manage productivity tools effectively.
Find YouTube Videos Instantly
Perplexity can find and play YouTube videos instantly. For example, saying "find the video about iPhone Air by the TechGirl channel and play it on YouTube" prompts Perplexity to find and play the video. It understands natural language and directly opens videos in YouTube. Additionally, while a video is playing, users can ask Perplexity to summarize the information in the video, providing a quick overview.
Get Detailed Weather Updates
Instead of using the weather app or Siri, users can ask Perplexity for weather updates. Asking "What's the weather like today?" or "Will it rain in Miami this weekend?" provides detailed answers, including temperature, humidity, rain chance, and UV index, along with suggestions. This conversational approach eliminates the need to open the weather app. Follow-up questions like "What should I be wearing today?" provide personalized advice.
Research & Open Websites on Safari
Perplexity functions as a research engine, capable of providing summaries with verified sources. For example, asking "Find me the best laptops for students under $1,000" or "Compare Apple Music versus Spotify for sound quality" provides instant summaries. Users can then ask Perplexity to "Open the review on The Verge," which automatically launches Safari with the specific webpage, eliminating the need to copy links or manually search.
Free vs Pro Voice Access
Perplexity's AI voice assistant is highly capable, managing maps, music, reminders, emails, booking rides, and conducting research through voice commands. Mapping it to the action button enhances its utility as a daily assistant. The free version of Perplexity has limited daily voice access, which resets after 24 hours, while the Pro version offers a much higher daily limit.
